Third Sunday of Easter, 14th April, 2024. Cycle B
St John the Evangelist
128 Bebington Road, New Ferry, CH62 5BJ
Diocese of Shrewsbury (reg. charity 234025)
Parish Priest: Fr Mario Ashuikeka
Deacon: Revd Michael Daly Phone: 0151 645 3314
Email stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com Websites http://www.stjohntheevangelistnewferry.com
Third Sunday of Easter, 14th April, 2024. Cycle B
FAITH IN FOCUS: FISH SPECIALS
What do we know about Jesus after his resurrection? Well, we know at least that he was hungry!
Both Luke and John report after-death appearances of Jesus where he wants something to eat. And in two of the stories he ends up eating grilled fish. So he wasn’t a vegetarian either!
On one level we can see these two accounts as just simple stories that give us a bit more extra detail than we normally have about Jesus’ social habits. But there may be something else going on in the two gospel writers’ minds.
How do we meet the risen Jesus today? Clearly the most obvious way is through other people. Through our baptism we are called to become “other Christs”. We are called to be Christ to each other and we see the face of Christ in all people who require our care, our concern and our service.
We meet the risen Christ in the liturgy when ministers and congregation gather, for Jesus said that wherever two or three gather in his name he will be present. We meet him in the words of scripture. Far from being some ancient book of religious formulae the scriptures are the living word of God. When the scriptures are proclaimed in church it is God who speaks.
And while we are ready to say that Christ is present in the sacraments, it has to be the eucharist that takes pride of place for meeting the risen Lord. For it is in eating and drinking the body and blood of Christ that we come closest to him. St Augustine never tired of telling his congregation that they would become what they ate: the Body of Christ, which is also the name we give to the Church.
At what precise moment did the two Emmaus disciples realise that they were in the presence of their risen Lord? It was when he broke the bread for them to eat. What was it that Jesus asked the apostles for in both Luke and John’s gospel? Something to eat!
Not surprising really, because when we eat that bread and drink that cup we proclaim Christ’s death and resurrection until he comes again.
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: Cry out with joy to God, all the earth; O sing to the glory of his name. O render him glorious praise. Alleluia.
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: Lift up the light of your face on us O Lord
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, alleluia!, Lord Jesus explain the scriptures to us. Make our hearts burn within us as you talk to us. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: The Christ had to suffer and on the third day rise from the dead; in his name repentance and remission of sins must be preached to all nations. Alleluia.
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Devotions/Adoration: Saturday Morning Devotions will be prayed in Church (the Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises) from 10:30am-11:30am. Fr Mario will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation between 10.30 & 11.00am. All are welcome.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection: amounted to £620.50p.
St Luke’s SVP Summer Camp Collections stands at £220.
If you have any queries regarding parish matters or if you wish to arrange a Baptism, Wedding or Funeral please contact Fr Mario on 0151-645 3996. You can also get in touch with Carol Dalziel on 07808975011 or Ann Murray on 07745490279 regarding general parish queries.
SJE’s Parish Safeguarding Officer is Celia Daly, who can be contacted on 0151-645 9256 on all safeguarding matters.
Mass Intentions If you would like to have a Mass said for your own or someone else’s intentions , fill in one of the Mass offering envelopes at the back of Church, place a donation in it & put it through the Presbytery letterbox. Please give at least three weeks’ notice as we are receiving a large number of requests for particular dates.
Children's Liturgy – takes place during the 9.30am Mass. All are most welcome
Wirral Foodbank Appeal: Please help to support our local Foodbank as much as you can with both food & funds. All items urgently needed are listed on the notice board at the back of church. Thank you.
Wirral Foodbank. We would like to start a new rota to drop off the donations to the warehouse in Birkenhead. The food is all non perishable & can be dropped off at the Wirral warehouse anytime Monday to Thursday between 10am & 1.30pm. My name is Cecily Sabino; I go to 9.30am Mass on Sunday. If you can help please contact Fr. Mario on 645 3996 or let me know that you are interested my tel no is 07901105591 so we can have a chat .Thank you
Sunday Morning Teas continue on the first Sunday of each month. Come along for tea/coffee & biscuits whilst enjoying a chat with your fellow parishioners. Next date will be Sunday 5th May.
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2024: Brochures & booking forms are now available on the Pilgrimage website: www.shrewsburypilgrimage.co.uk or by ringing 07773 324264, or if you are aged 16- 22 please email youth@dioceseofshrewsbury.org for an application form to join the youth section of our Pilgrimage. This year our Pilgrimage dates are: by air from Friday 26 July to Thursday 1 August, by coach from Thursday 25/07 to Friday 02/08 & for our young people from Wednesday 24/07 to Friday 02/08. If you are a first-time pilgrim or a returning pilgrim, we look forward to you joining us in Lourdes this year.
PILGRIMAGE TO MEDJUGORIE WITH FR MARIO.22nd to 26th June £549 pp sharing or £635 for a single room. Flying from Manchester, 4 star hotel including breakfast & evening meal, local guide & we will be in Medjugorie for the 43rd Anniversary. Telephone Maria Fryer on 07576243343 if interested.
Readers: New readers are always most welcome - please give your name, tel.no. & email address to Fr. Mario, or to me, or post your details through the Presbytery door; I usually attend the 9.30am Sunday Mass. Please also advise if you could be available for the 5.00pm weekly Saturday evening Mass as we only have a small pool of readers for this Service. Thank you – Carmel Harrison.
Missing Sunday Missal: has been found and returned to its owner. Many thanks to the person who returned the Missal to the Sacristy. The owner will be eternally grateful. Many thanks.
Anointing & Healing Service will be held here at St John’s on Friday, 3rd May at 7.00pm. Speaker: Fr Pat Collins, authour, retreat director and conference speaker. Theme: “What matters is faith that makes its power felt through love” (Gal 5:6). Posters are on display and leaflets are available on the table at the back of church
St John’s SVP: Will be holding a retiring collection over the weekend of 27th/28th April. The SVP do valuable work within the local community and your support will be greatly appreciated.
Social activities: We would like some volunteers to join our group to help to arrange various social activities this year. Please ring/text Diane Baylis on 07946916338. Thank you.
Women’s Grace Group will be meeting at St John’s in the Day Chapel on Tuesday, 16th April at 7.00pm. All welcome.
The Irenaeus Project Women’s Weekend Retreat: Join us for our women’s weekend on 14th -16th June ‘Mary in a world of Martha’. We will explore what it is like to be like Mary listening at the feet of Jesus. Residential places are very limited. For more information see poster at the back of church and/or contact jenny@irenaeus.co.uk and tel. 949 1199.
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Saturday 13th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Philomena Fletcher RIP Third Sunday of Easter 14th 9.30am David Dobson RIP
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 15th 9.15am Victims of Domestic Abuse
Tuesday 16th 9.15am Teresa Young RIP
Wednesday 17th 9.15am Mary Williams for Improved Health
Thursday 18th 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Pray for the sick, Health Workers and Carers
Friday 19th 9.15am The Homeless
Saturday 20th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm In Loving Memory of Honor Evans
Fourth Sunday of Easter 21st 9.30am Brian Jones 1st Anniv.
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Weekend Masses - Please note that the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed immediately before each Mass. Please use this as a time for prayer & quiet devotion. Please enter the church quietly & remain so. Thank you.
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ST ANNE’S WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday 13th 6.00pm Nick Codd 12th Anniv.
Third Sunday of Easter 14th 11.00am Jack McCormick Anniv.
Monday 15th 12 Noon Sister Marie Birthday
Tuesday 16th 12 Noon Anne McGrory RIP
Wednesday 17th 12.Noon The sick, health workers and carers
Thursday 18th 12 Noon Funeral Mass Heather Smith
7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Friday 19th 12 Noon Fr Terry Murray RIP
Saturday 20th 6.00pm Kathleen Gallagher
Fourth Sunday of Easter 21st 11.00am World Peace
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Pope Francis’ Intentions for April: We pray that the dignity and immense value of women be recognised in every culture and for the end of discrimination that they experience in different parts of the world.
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